Batang Ai: Big hydro-electric dam nearby but folks rarely get power

By STEPHEN THEN

BATANG AI: No public bus transport, not enough telephone lines, poor electricity supply, frequent water-supply interruptions, not enough health and medical facilities, roads in bad shape, poor mail services, no banks, few job opportunities – these are just a small portion of the long list of socio-economic woes of the 18,000 folks in the Batang Ai state constituency. It has been like this for a long time, even though the Batang Ai hydro-electric dam has been running since 25 years ago.

The people of Batang Ai want a solution to their woes and they want them fast.

And they expect the Barisan Nasional and opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidates in this by-election to hear their grouses and are likely to vote for the man whom they believe will likely improve facilities and amenities – quickly.

The Star’s survey found a high level of poverty and backwardness in Batang Ai, even in the main commercial centre of Lubok Antu Bazaar.

The Batang Ai constituency measures 1,300 sq kms and has 156 longhouses and villages scattered far and wide apart.

Road-links are few. The river is the main mode of travel and transport from the interior outposts to the towns.

The existing roads are narrow and many still gravel.

However, once the by-election was declared following the death of incumbent Barisan assemblyman Datuk Dublin Unting on Feb 24, JKR had tar-sealed numerous stretches of these roads.

“This is what we want. Action. Not just promises after promises by politicians,” said longhouse elder Dunstan Jelin who hails from Rumah Labi.

Jelin is happy that the feeder road that leads to his longhouse from the main Batang Ai road has been tarred and that more promises of development are rained down on Batang Ai now that politicians are jostling for the hearts and minds of the people.

“As long as they (politicians) deliver, we do not care which party they come from. We are fed up with the lack of basic necessary facilities.

“Many longhouses still do not have electricity – after so many decades. Water supply is also very unpredictable. There are times when we get water from our pipes only two days in a week.

“The remaining days, we have to rely on rain water and water from the Batang Ai lake.

“I hope politicians are not just here for the by-election. Look into the problems we are facing. Come to our kampungs and longhouses and see for yourselves the condition we are living in,” he said.

Catholic priest Reverend Father Martin Wong, who handles the Sri Aman Parish, has travelled extensively in Batang Ai, as well as the its neighbouring constituencies.

He knows the problems faced by the people in the interior.

“It is good to see a sudden big surge in development projects coming into Batang Ai. I hope the pace of improvement will continue even after the by-election.

“Indeed, the people, especially those living in the far reaches, have a lot of problems that needs to be resolved. I know the government is serious about wanting to help them, but there must be greater effort put in to improve the delivery system,” he stressed.

Shopkeeper Chong Kiat Voon joked that there should be more by-elections held on a more regular basis.

Having to wait five years for an election just to get windfalls in the form of financial and project allocations is too long a period, he said.

Barisan leaders had so far announced allocation for development projects and cash incentives amounting to more than RM70mil for Batang Ai.

1. “As long as they (politicians) deliver, we do not care which party they come from. We are fed up with the lack of basic necessary facilities.”

Naive. You don’t care which party? Even when there’s this one party that you voted all this while, neglected the people and basic infrastructures in the area for the past 45 years? Great.

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It’s by election time again! Well it is a tri-election this time – Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai. 2 Bukit and 1 Batang. Doesn’t sound right. We have another Bukit in waiting – Bukit Lanjan. The orgy fest of the Bukits and Batang.. Ah Ah Har Har…

Few things. MSM is again, spinning for the establishment. So, let’s unspin the spin in this insignificant blog of mine.

If you read the MSM reports for the past few days, especially on Bukit Selambau by election, you may get this conclusion – Bukit Selambau Indian votes may shift because of ‘perceived’ change of Indian sentiments on the ground, reflected by the resignation by Jerai PKR division chief B. Kalaivanar and some PKR Indian leaders contesting as independents, defying the party’s rule.

Le’t start with Kalaivanar. I quote:

SUNGAI PETANI: PKR’s campaign for the Bukit Selambau state seat was dealt an early blow when more than 450 members, led by Jerai PKR division chief B. Kalaivanar, quit the party.

(Source: The Star)

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I know the current political situation in this country is not funny. Well, it is kinda funny, but it is not funny enough to laugh. I am going to share some jokes today, we need to laugh more at this trying times.

Joke 1:

Cannibal Head Hunter

A cannibal-head hunter was walking through the Sarawak jungle and came upon a restaurant operated by a fellow cannibal-head hunter.

Feeling somewhat hungry, he sat down and looked over the menu…

1) Any Tourist: RM 5.00

2) Broiled Korean Missionary: RM 10.00

3) Fried American Explorer: RM 15.00

4) Grilled and baked UMNO minister: RM 100.00

The cannibal-head hunter called the waiter over and asked, ‘Why such a big price difference for the Umno minister’ head?’

The cook replied, ‘Have you ever tried to clean one?

They’re so full of shit, it takes all morning to prepare it.

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Al Jazeera 101 East programme on Astro Channel 513 was showing a documentary on the proposed 12 dams in Sarawak last night.

The documentary mainly touched on the details of Taib’s family Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS) and its businesses, a short interview carried with James Jemut Masing, the Sarawak Land Development Minister, social activist Dr John Brian Anthony of Dayak Baru, Abdul Aziz Hussain – Managing Director of Sarawak Energy and the people affected by proposed dams development.

The most interesting part to watch is of course, the interview with James Jemut Masing where good questions were asked by the interviewer, Fauziah Ibrahim specifically on the topics such as political and capital cronyism, conflict of interest, corruption, environmental issues and abuse of power by who else but Pek Mo lah!

Let me quote the opening statement by the journalist:

“For decades, Asia political dynasties have been leased to political cronyism. Here in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the political and economic scene has been dominated for 30 years by one man, Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.“

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I was reading the post ‘Do having degrees make a person better YB?‘ by The Broken Shield and I decided to post it to my Facebook Notes after adding a little comment.

Having degree can be an added advantage for a YB. That’s the simplest way to gauge the level of literacy/education of a person. In general, an educated person is supposed to be more capable especially when it comes using the brain department, as compared to those less educated ones. Having better education also means better access and comprehension to many information available.

As long as the person put all this in good use, we shall have nothing of such discussion whether having degree(s) make a person a better YB or not. It’s only when you have educated people for example the infamous son-in-law, a graduate from Oxford but behaving like hooligan, instigating fanatics to cause harm, making insidious, irresponsible statements, throwing support to a bunch of criminals, we have this question, today.

That said, having a degree does not reflect on the level of ‘awareness’ or ‘intelects’ of a person. More so when degrees nowadays are so easy to get. Some Sarawakian politicians even have PHDs! REAL one, if you must believe. *chuckles*

Well, we can have a person with a degree but still a lot lacking in the brain department leading to embarassing moments as potrayed in our Prime Minister inteview with CNN and Zam the Goblok’s ‘This is no Myammar’ statement, just to mention a few.

To quote a commentator on my blog when I posted an entry – “Pak Lah is the epitome of stupidity, inability and indignity”

“stupid or not, he made it as PM of Malaysia. You?“

Do you think that’s funny? Laugh with me then. Har Har Har!

What is necessary, as a politician.. you must have the brain and MORE IMPORTANT you must have HEART. With good heart, come conscience. Ah so cliche!

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I am having a problem. I have no idea what to write on this blog, but I want to write. I can’t find anything that I feel the urge to write about, lately. I spent these few days, every now and then reading my old posts, and I noticed that I normally write out of frustrations and anger.

Probably, after so long, I am kinda get used and become immune to those feelings now that I don’t feel like venting it out anymore.  I think the word is ‘conditioned’.

Frustration. Anger. Helpless. Hope.

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Bala sida blogger baka cheremin, pia ku Masing

KUCHING: Penulis blog baka cheremin, ku Presiden Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Dato Sri Dr James Masing.

Iya madah cheremin sigi beguna mantu siku-siku orang ngemanahka raban politik ke deka nyadi ketuai ngiring orang mayuh.

“Anang mechahka cheremin enti kitai meda diri enda sigat…tu pengawa ke salah.

“Blog tu baka cheremin kena kitai meda gamal kitai empu (nyadi raban politik enggau ketuai orang mayuh) anang enda beratika utai kritik orang,” ku iya madah ngagai pengarang berita udah abis aum Barisan Nasional (BN) ditu, kemari.

Masing ke mega Menteri Pemansang Tanah madah, iya nerima jaku kritik ke ngemansang enggau ke betul pasal iya empu.

Orang ke nyadi penulis blog enggau penyakal mansutka jaku lebuh ngasaika bisi utai enda kena ba orang nya.

Iya ke ditanya pasal sentimen sida ke nyadi penulis blog ke mayuh agi ngarika penyakal madah, bisi sekeda penulis blog mantaika runding ke manah.

“Bisi mega ngasuh bansa Dayak beserakup. Tang pekara ke beguna sida iya patut beratika pekara ke disebut sida iya,” ku iya.

The translation for the article above in English is attached below.

Bloggers only make noise, says Masing
By Samuel Aubrey

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing says the emergence of many pro-opposition Dayak bloggers is not a true representation of the feeling of the majority of the Dayak community.

He said the blogs, most of which were in support of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), were only confined to bloggers with an anti-establishment sentiment.

“These bloggers tend to make a lot of noise, but I do not believe they represent the majority. Just because they are bloggers they make a lot of noise and incite the people.

“Yet, the majority of people in Sarawak are not inclined towards that kind of thinking. The community in general are more rational in their thinking,” he said.

Masing, who earlier attended the State BN supreme council meeting here, was asked by reporters the impact of blogs on the Batang Ai by-election.

Though the blogs might not side BN, he said he was not all against criticisms made by the bloggers against BN. He said some of the criticisms allowed BN to see its faults and shortcomings.

“Bloggers who are against BN are like mirror. You do not ignore the image you see in the mirror. If there is a pimple, cure it. If there is something wrong, erase it. Do not break the mirror if you do not like what you see. You’ve got to be positive,” he said.

He nonetheless expressed his disappointment with criticisms, which tend to be vindictive rather than contributing towards the development of the community.

Some bloggers, he added, must also ‘walk the talk’ rather than just making criticisms.

“I welcome positive criticism. If ignored, human civilisation will never move forward, that’s what I always think.

“But (to the bloggers), don’t criticise for the sake of criticising. That is being vindictive, and it gives a poor impression of the critic himself,” he said.

Notice how the title differs from the above one, totally changing the context of Masing’s speech? Even the way of the article is being presented is different. The 1st article refers to the comment by James Masing, welcoming positive criticisms by bloggers, especially against politicians as they are the leaders who are elected to lead and represent people’s interest and the word used is ‘nyadi raban politik enggau ketuai orang mayuh. (politicians and leaders of the community).

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